Lever actuated lid and container and method for using same

ABSTRACT

A device for transporting and drinking liquids includes a body having a sidewall extending longitudinally between an upper surface and a lower surface. The sidewall has an inner surface that defines at least part of an aperture through the body and an outer surface, opposite the inner surface. The device also includes a sealing surface projecting from the inner surface of the body and a seal actuator including a linkage engaged with a seal. The seal is engaged with the inner surface of the body; the linkage is adapted to translate rotational displacement of the linkage into a linear displacement of the seal towards and away from the sealing surface of the body between closed and open positions. A lever engaged with the linkage is adapted to impart a rotational force onto the linkage to rotate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure is generally related to liquid travel containers,and more particularly, to a lid with a lever actuated seal for a travelcup.

Description of the Related Art

Devices and methods for use in transporting and drinking liquids thatresist spills, yet are easily openable can aid in preventing spills. Avariety of devices have been developed over the years in an attempt toreduce spills associated with traveling with liquids.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to devices and methods for use intransporting and drinking liquids. In one particular embodiment, adevice includes a body that has a sidewall extending longitudinallybetween an upper surface and a lower surface. The sidewall having aninner surface that defines at least part of an aperture through the bodyand an outer surface, opposite the inner surface. The device alsoincluding a sealing surface projecting from the inner surface of thebody and a seal actuator including a linkage engaged with a seal. Theseal being engaged with inner surface of the body, the linkageconfigured to translate rotational displacement of the linkage into alinear displacement of the seal. The linear displacement being towardsand away from the sealing surface of the body and between respectiveclosed and open positions. A lever engaged with the linkage andconfigured to impart a rotational force onto the linkage to rotate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a lever actuated thermal lid,according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 along line4-4 of FIG. 3, in a closed configuration.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the seal assembly of the apparatus of FIG. 1 inthe closed configuration.

FIG. 6A is the cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 in anopen configuration.

FIG. 6B is a top perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the openconfiguration.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the seal assembly of the apparatus of FIG. 1 inthe open configuration.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the seal assembly of the apparatus of FIG. 1 ina locked open configuration.

FIG. 9 is a right side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a left side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a back view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 coupled to a cup.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is directed toward apparatus andmethods for making a lid with a lever actuated seal for a travel cup.The detailed description and corresponding figures are intended toprovide an individual of ordinary skill in the art with enoughinformation to enable that individual to make and use embodiments of theinvention. Such an individual, however, having read this entire detaileddescription and reviewed the figures, will appreciate that modificationscan be made to the illustrated and described embodiments, and/orelements removed therefrom, without deviating from the spirit of theinvention. It is intended that all such modifications and deviationsfall within the scope of the invention, and the invention is limitedonly by construction of following claims.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment of the disclosed structures and/or methods. Thus, theappearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” invarious places throughout this specification are not necessarily allreferring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features,structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner inone or more embodiments.

FIGS. 1-14 illustrate one particular embodiment of a device 10 for usein transporting and drinking liquids that resist spills. FIG. 15 showsthe device 10 coupled to a cup for carrying a beverage or the like. Theillustrated device 10 primarily comprises a body 12, a rim 14, and alever actuated seal assembly 16. The device 10 can be sized and shapedto comfortably fit in a user's hand when attached to a cup, such as thethermal cups shown in FIGS. 15-34. The user can use the device with asingle hand by holding the device and attached cup in one hand and thenpressing down on the lever 18.

Pressing down on the lever 18 actuates the seal assembly 16 (see, forexample, FIG. 4) to displace the seal 20 of the seal assembly 16 awayfrom the rim 14 and the sealing surface 22 (see, for example, FIGS. 4-7)of the body 12. When the seal 20 is displaced away from the sealingsurface 22 of the body 12 an annular opening 24 forms between theperimeter of the seal 20 and the sealing surface 22. The annular opening24 places the interior of a thermal cup in fluid communication with anenvironment external to the thermal cup. This allows liquid to flow fromthe interior of the thermal cup, through the annular opening 24 in thedevice 10, and into the environment external to the thermal cup, forconsumption by the user.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the components of the device 10. Thesecomponents work together to operably open and close the device 10, whichmay also be referred to as a lid. The body 12 of the lid 10 includes acoupling 23 for coupling the lid 10 to a cup. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the coupling 23 is a threaded coupling for screwing intocorresponding threads on a cup, such as the threads 302 of the cup 300,shown in FIG. 28.

The rim 14 may slide over and around the upper portion of the body 12.In some embodiments, the rim 14 may press fit onto the body 12. In someembodiments, the rim 14 and the body 12 may be combined in a singlepart. In other embodiments, the lid may be held in place by the lever 18and a linkage 26.

In such an embodiment, a stud 28 is placed through the aperture 30 ofthe body 12, and opposing keys 32 of the lever 18 are inserted throughapertures 36 on either side of the rim 14 and into keyholes 34 of therespective linkages 26. In this way, the linkages 26 and lever 18 holdthe rim 14 to the body 12.

The gasket 38 is seated on the seal 20, at the outer perimeter of theseal 20. The gasket aids in forming a fluid tight seal between the seal20 and the sealing surface 22 of the body 12. During assembly, the seal20 is inserted into an interior cavity 42 of the body 12. In someembodiments, the gasket 38 may be integrated into the seal 20 or thebody 12. In some embodiments, the gasket 38 may form at least a portionof the sealing surface of the body.

The body includes tracks 44 that project inwardly from an inner surface46 of the body 12. The inner surface 46 defines at least a portion ofthe interior cavity 42 of the body 12. The guide arms 48 project from abottom surface of the seal 20 and engage between parallel projections ofrespective tracks 44. The guide arms 48 and the tracks 44 cooperate toallow the seal 20 to translate axially towards and away from the sealingsurface 22 of the body 12.

The linkage 26 couples the seal 20 to the lever 18 such that when thelever is pressed, the linkage 26 rotates and translates the rotationalforce imparted by the lever 18 into linear movement of the seal 26,causing the seal 26 to move linearly along a central axis of the body12. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lid 10 along the line 4-4shown in FIG. 3, with the seal in the closed position against thesealing surface 22. FIG. 4 shows how the linkage 26 engaged with theseal 20. The linkage 26 includes a stud 50 that engages with an aperture55 in the seal 20.

With reference to the exploded view, FIG. 2, and the view of the sealassembly 16 in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 5, the linkage 26also includes an arm 52 that extends from an end of the linkage 26opposite the end of the linkage 26 from which the stud 28 projects. Thearm 52 includes a projection 54 that extends from an end of the arm 52.The projection 54 engages with a recess 56 of the seal 20.

When the lever 18 is pressed downwards, the linkage 26 rotates about thestud 28 in a direction indicated by arrow A. As the linkage 26 rotatesin the direction A, the stud 50 pushes on an inner perimeter of theaperture 55 of the seal 20 causing the seal to translate linearly awayfrom the sealing surface 22 of the body 12.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 7 show an embodiment of the lid 10 and seal assembly 16in the partially open position, also referred to as a sipping ordrinking position. In the sipping position, the projection 54 on the arm52 of the linkage 26 is pressed against a stud 60 that is within therecess 56 of the seal 20.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the annular opening 24 is formed between the seal20 and the sealing surface 22 of the body 12 when the seal 20 is in thesipping position. Thus, in this configuration, the interior of a cup isin fluid communication with an environment external to the interior ofthe cup. One flow path of fluid through the lid 10 is shown by arrows B.

When the user releases the lever 14, springs 63 act to rotate thelinkage 26 in a direction opposite direction A, such that the seal 20translates linearly towards the sealing surface 22 of the body 12causing the lid 10 to close.

The lid 10 may also include a configuration in which the seal 20 islocked in an open position, for example, as shown in FIG. 8. A user mayengage the locked open position of seal 20 by pressing on the lever withgreater force, causing the projection 54 to slide over the stud 60within the recess 56 and into the detent 58. The detent 58 holds thelinkage 26 in place and thus holds the seal 20 in an open position. Thedetent 58 and the projection 54 are configured such that when the sealassembly 16 is locked in the open position, they cooperate to resist theclosing force imparted by the springs 63 onto the linkage 26. A user mayplace the lid 10 in the locked open position to facilitate cleaning ofthe lid 10.

To release the seal 20 from the locked open position, the user pressesupward on the lever 18 with enough force to overcome the resistancebetween the projection 54 and the stud 60 such that the stud 54 is movedout of the detent 58. With the stud out of the detent 58, the springs 63can then act on the linkage 26 to translate the seal 20 upwards towardsthe ceiling surface 22 of the body 12 and closed the lid 10.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the lid 10 may also include a gasket 62. Thegasket 62 can aid in sealing the body 12 of the lid 10 to, for example,a cup 200, as shown in FIG. 15.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specificembodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes ofillustration, various modifications may be made without deviating fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is notlimited except as by the appended claims.

1. A lever actuated lid, comprising: a body including a sidewallextending longitudinally between an upper surface and a lower surface,the sidewall having an inner surface that defines at least part of anaperture through the body and an outer surface that is opposite theinner surface; a sealing surface projecting from the inner surface ofthe body; a seal actuator including a linkage engaged with a seal, theseal being engaged with inner surface of the body, the linkageconfigured to translate rotational displacement of the linkage intolinear displacement of the seal, the linear displacement being towardsand away from the sealing surface of the body and between respectiveclosed and open positions; and a lever engaged with the linkage andconfigured to impart a rotational force onto the linkage to rotate. 2.The lever actuated lid of claim 1 further comprising: a recess formed inthe seal; and an arm extending from an end of the linkage, the armincluding a projection configured to move within the recess when thelinkage rotates.
 3. The lever actuated lid of claim 1 furthercomprising: the lever including a first keyed end; and the linkageincludes a first stud configured to receive the first keyed end of thelever.
 4. The lever actuated lid of claim 1 further comprising: a springengaged with the linkage and configured to impart a closing force on theseal to hold the seal against the sealing surface of the body.
 5. Thelever actuated lid of claim 1 wherein the rim and the body are a singleunitary structure.
 6. The lever actuated lid of claim 1 furthercomprising: a track projecting from the inner surface of the body; andguide arms projecting from the seal, the guide arms configured to engagewith the track.
 7. The lever actuated lid of claim 1 wherein the bodyincludes: a coupling configured to couple the body to a container. 8.The lever actuated lid of claim 7 wherein the coupling is a threadedcoupling.
 9. The lever actuated lid of claim 1 further comprising: agasket configured to aid in sealing the seal to the sealing surface ofthe body.
 10. The lever actuated lid of claim 9 wherein the gasket formsat least a portion of the sealing surface of the body.
 11. A method ofactuating a lid, the method comprising: coupling a lid to a fluidcontainer, the lid including an actuated seal that is positionablebetween an open position in which an interior of the fluid container isin fluid communication with an environment external to the fluidcontainer and a closed position in which the interior of the fluidcontainer is not in fluid communication with the environment external tothe interior of the fluid container; applying a force on a lever;rotating a linkage about a stud that is coupled to the lever; andtranslating the rotation of the linkage into a linear displacement of aseal away from a sealing surface to form an annular opening